1986 Honda Civic Wagon from North America - Comments

Seatbelt buckles started to fail. Quick fix done on manufacturer's recall, but not really satisfactory.

Seat covers wore out after about 11 years.

Some rust, but not serious. I could have dealt with the small spots as soon as I noticed them, but didn't. Now they are large and unsightly.

This is an amazingly reliable car.

The only serious repair it has required is a replacement oil pan that I punctured by driving where I shouldn't have.

Otherwise, only routine maintenance.

LOTS of leg room, front and back.

Lots of visibility.

Very nimble, tight turning circle, parks in places you wouldn't believe.

Headrests on four seats make this a safer small car than most vehicles of this vintage.

Back seats fold down flat giving an incredible amount of luggage/cargo space.

I will drive this car into the ground!

I agree fully with your comments. The black door rimming paint also started to fade away, CV joints noisy (150 000km

). Steering is slightly heavy (Pre-power steering). Dash cracks in 2003 too.

I love my 1986 Honda Civic Wagon. Asked my mechanic what the most reliable car was for the money -$10,000US- at the time and he said after working on our Volvos; BUY A HONDA. He was right.

Please bear with me. I am looking for advice as that same Honda is now with me here in Yucatan, Mexico. Is overheating and am hearing different reasons for cause. Is fine as long as one drives evenly-no stop and go. No high revs. There is a Honda dealer in city closest to me, Merida, Yucatan, but they only deal with post "97 models and really don't want to work on my car. Have a local mechanic who has been good, but I need guidance. I can get parts FEDxED to me.

If someone out there has any ideas and has a little time, please send me an email: sherriljordan@prodigy.net.mx.

Only have 135,000 miles.

Thanks, Sherrill.

Hey I agree with both of you all, I have an 85 civic wagon it has some minor work, but it is a great little car... I want to find some one here in the us that can make me a full racing type back seat and front seat... Also I have been hearing some screeching sounds like the clutch... And if some one could tell me about why my car dies when the clutch is put in I would realy appreciate it thanks... peace Thomas comer of sedalia missouri 65301 grind_50@hotmail.com.

You can't drive a civic into the ground. I have an 87 wagon, and the radiator and thermostate were both bad. I drove that little car about 15 miles with the temp gauge all the way in the red, and it started right up the next day. Awesome car, can't kill em.

I had the same issue with the Thermostat--I drove my 86 Wagovan for 150 miles with the temp in the red--it didn't as much as hiccup. It's hard to find parts for it in other places than Honda directly. I love it too much to get rid of it...it's my "precious".

Yeah. My car is having the same problems as most you guys. Most recently the thermostat. My car overheats if I don't feel it with water before I take a long trip. But other than that its very reliable. I remember one night I forgot to put water in it and my gauge was on red the whole trip I thought for sure I damaged my motor. The next morning she reved right up like she hadn't darn near burned up the night before. I love her. I was going to fix up her a little and sell her for a better car for my senior year, but I decided I'm going to put all my money in her. If anyone has any advice on what I can do to her, or has any questions email me at wiseboy89@yahoo.com. Greg Wise.

I have a 1986 Honda Civic Wagovan; a really good car. It gets 35mpg and I love that. The timing belt had 188,000 miles on it before it snapped and bent two valves. Now before I found out that it was an interference head, I replaced the timing belt and it ran like crap. I called my mechanic and he told me that it was an interference head and that I had a 1 in 1,000,000 chance that a valve didn't bend. I was surprised that the car ran with two bent valves in two different cylinders, now that's quality, but it wouldn't move under its own power.

Now I'm replacing the engine that I bought from "all engine distributing" in fresno, ca with 30,000-40,000 miles on the engine for $804 out the door. That's better than repairing the heads on an engine that has 188,000 on it, not to mention the pistons might be damaged because of the valves.

I'm hoping that this other engine is as great as the other, but it is a Honda engine and they're all the same quality if you take care of them.